Both mayors and councillors from Banff and Canmore came together last Thursday (Feb. 7) for the first ever semi-formal joint meeting at the civic centre in Canmore to discuss several issues and events pertaining to the two communities.
Although councils have previously met in the past through informal settings, this meeting was aimed to signify the growing relationship between Canmore and Banff, as well as hear from delegations relating to both towns.
“Mayor Sorensen and I had been talking about it for at least six months or more just sort of as an idea of what it would look like and if it would be worthwhile,” said Mayor John Borrowman about both councils gathering in chambers.
“It was very successful,” he added after the meeting. “Certainly over the years we’ve gotten together almost always in a social format and that’s really healthy too because then you can get to know the other councillors.
“To my knowledge that’s the first time the two councils sat down together at a council table, listened to reports and discussed some issues as a joint council.”
Four presentations were made during the meeting, which included Calgary Regional Partnerships, Bow Valley Regional Housing, the Alberta Winter Games and Bow Valley Regional Transit Service Commission, which has now surpassed over 900 riders using the Banff/Canmore service in one week.
“The joint reports, those are all initiatives that we’re working on together, so we saved some people time to go to both councils,” Borrowman explained.
“It was just having all of the councillors up there and focusing the attention on the fact we share the Valley. We are, in a lot of ways, one community,” he added.
“It’s important for residents of Banff and Canmore to see that councils are working together and addressing issues in a co-operative manner.”
This meeting may not have come at a better time considering both towns will host the 2014 Alberta Winter Games, during which the delegation present at the meeting indicated, approximately $2.5 million would be spent within the two communities during the event from Feb. 6-9.
The delegation also noted it will be required to have about 2,500 volunteers to facilitate the Games and the Town’s will also play host to roughly 2,400 athletes and 350 coaches and managers.
Seniors housing has also been an important topic for both councils and the extension of the senior’s lodge in Canmore by 60 units, with residents moving in as early as March, was brought up during the joint meeting as well.
CAOs from each community provided general updates regarding projects the Towns are working on, for example, Banff’s new bio-waste recycling facility and the eventual completion of the Legacy Trail connecting the info centre in Canmore to the park gates.
“I thought it was really positive,” said Mayor Karen Sorensen about the meeting. “These two councils are paying attention to how the communities can work together.”
“It’s really one community and it’s sort of interchangeable,” added Borrowman. “There are a lot of people that live in Canmore and work in Banff and vice versa. As our communities grow, we become much closer as neighbours and that’s always healthy.”
Both mayors noted the two councils meeting together do not represent a governing body and therefore no motions or decisions could be made. Borrowman also indicated meetings such as this would likely occur only twice a year.
